Creating custom model buildings for your N scale railway is a great way to add realism and uniqueness to your personal layout.
The model buildings in your layout play an important role in creating the overall look and feel of your railway, and creating your own custom buildings can help to create a more realistic and believable scene that you will love.
In this article, we will be covering some of the most popular techniques and materials for creating custom model buildings, including cardstock modeling, scratch building, and 3D printing. Let’s dig in.
Cardstock modeling
Cardstock modeling is a popular technique for creating custom buildings in N scale. The process involves printing out building plans on heavy cardstock paper, and then cutting, folding, and gluing the pieces together to create a realistic model.
The materials and tools needed for this technique include cardstock paper, a printer, scissors, glue, and a ruler.
The main advantages of cardstock modeling is that it is relatively easy to do and does not require a lot of specialized equipment. To achieve a realistic look, it is important to pay attention to the details and to use paint and other weathering techniques to add texture and depth.
There are tons of cut out templates available on the web, for example at modelbuildings.org
Scratch building
Scratch building is another technique that is beloved by model railroading fans.
It simply involves creating a custom building from scratch by using basic materials such as wood, plastic, and special foam board. While this technique is more involved than cardstock modeling and requires more specialized tools such as saws, drills, and sandpaper, it’s still relatively easy to get a cool building out o fit.
The materials and tools needed for scratch building include wood, plastic, foam board, glue, and paint.
Scratch building is a great technique for creating unique and one-of-a-kind buildings that are not available as pre-made kits.
Using 3D printers
3D printing is a relatively new technique that is becoming increasingly popular for creating custom buildings in N scale. For good reason.
The process involves using a 3D printer to create a physical model of a building, based on a digital design. The materials and tools needed for 3D printing include a 3D printer, plastic filament, and software for creating 3D models.
3D printing is a great technique for creating highly detailed and accurate buildings, however, it can be more expensive than other techniques and requires access to specialized equipment and software. To achieve a realistic look, it is important to pay attention to the details and to use paint and other weathering techniques to add texture and depth.
Conclusion
Creating custom model buildings for your N scale railway is a great way to add realism and uniqueness to your layout. There are several different techniques and materials that can be used to create custom buildings, from cardstock modeling to scratch building and 3D printing.
And no matter which technique you choose, it is important to pay attention to the details and use paint and other weathering techniques to add texture and depth. By creating custom model buildings, you can create a railway layout that is truly unique and realistic.
